How Arkansas’ congressional delegation voted
Here is how Arkansas’ U.S. senators and U.S. representatives voted on major roll call votes during the week that ended Friday.
D F KEY: h✔ FOR h✖ AGAINST h NOT VOTING PASSED DEFEATED
HOUSE The House was in recess. SENATE D Improvements to water
infrastructure. Passed 99-1, a multiyear-funding bill (S3021) that would authorize $4.4 billion for safe drinking water programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, $3.7 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects to improve the navigation of U.S. waterways, and additional sums for local projects to control overflows during rainstorms and help coastal communities deal with rising sea levels caused by climate change. In addition, the bill would fund programs to restore shorelines and wetlands, fix irrigation systems, speed approval of hydropower projects and prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.
John Boozman, R-Ark., said: “Infrastructure investment is not a rural issue or a big city issue. It is not a red state or blue state problem. This is a national emergency, and it is time we put partisanship aside and show the American people we can work together to provide safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services to Americans in every part of the country.” Mike Lee, R-Utah, who cast the dissenting vote, said the bill “is not the much-needed reform that national water infrastructure needs. Instead it is simple continuation” of federal policies that infringe on state and local authority.
A yes vote was to send the bill to President Donald Trump. h✔ John Boozman (R)
h✔ Tom Cotton (R) F Short-term insurance, pre-existing conditions. Failed 50-50, to overturn a Trump administration rule under which states, starting this month, can authorize the sale of “short-term, limited-duration” health insurance in the individual market as an alternative to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act coverage. Such policies cost far less because they omit the Affordable Care Act’s required “essential health benefits,” including coverage of consumers with pre-existing conditions and a prohibition on annual or lifetime coverage limits. Critics call this “junk insurance” that would weaken the 2010 health law by siphoning off younger and healthier individuals, while supporters say it offers an affordable choice to people seeking relief from the Affordable Care Act’s tangle of regulations. The vote occurred during debate on SJRes63. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said: “The Trump administration has expanded junk insurance plans. These plans are cheap for a reason; they do not have to provide essential health benefits like hospitalization, prescription drugs and maternity care.” Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said the Trump rule “doesn’t change one single word in the Affordable Care Act, which guarantees that if you have a pre-existing condition, you have a right to buy Obamacare, and you can’t be charged more because of it.” A yes vote was to nullify the Trump rule under terms of the Congressional Review Act. h✖ Boozman (R) h✖ Cotton (R) D Jeffrey Clark, assistant attorney general. Confirmed 5245, Jeffrey B. Clark, a partner in a Washington law firm, as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. He was second-in-command of the
division during part of the George W. Bush administration. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said: “No fewer than seven former assistant attorneys general tell the Senate that [Clark’s] well-rounded background and prior experience in the division make him an excellent choice for this position.”
Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said: “In 2014, [Clark] said the science of climate change is ‘contestable.’ He represented British Petroleum in litigation over the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. He has represented the Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups in challenging EPA greenhouse gas regulations.”
A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.
h✔ Boozman (R)
h✔ Cotton (R) D Eric Dreiband, assistant
attorney general. Confirmed 5047, Eric S. Dreiband, a partner in a Washington law firm, as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. He was general counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 2003-05. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said: “Those who have worked with [Dreiband] emphasize his strong commitment to protecting all Americans’ civil rights.” Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Dreiband is a corporate lawyer with “no experience [in] important duties of the Civil Rights Division, such as protecting voting rights, combating hate crimes and ensuring that police departments respect the Constitution and civil rights laws.”
A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.
h✔ Boozman (R)
h✔ Cotton (R)